Cover for Infant Changing Pad

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a cover for an infant changing pad, the cover having a substantially rectangular surface sized in approximate proportions to cover an infant changing pad, a lengthwise axis centrally dividing the rectangular surface lengthwise, a crosswise axis centrally dividing the rectangular surface crosswise, a first retention area on the rectangular surface, a second retention area on the rectangular surface, a third retention area on the rectangular surface, and wherein the first, second, and third retention areas releasably retain a diaper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The embodiments of the invention relate covers for infant changing pads, and more particularly, to covers for infant changing pads that accommodate squirming infants. Although embodiments of the invention are suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for removably securing a diaper to a changing pad.

Discussion of the Related Art

Children around the globe wear diapers of varying constructions during the early childhood years to prevent the unsanitary discharge of bodily fluids. In the developed world, these diapers are commonly disposable and come compressed and folded in bulk packs of 20, 40 or more. When diapers become soiled, caretakers commonly elect to change infant's diapers in a designated changing area. These designated changing areas are frequently equipped with furniture and tools to facilitate efficient and sanitary changing of diapers. This includes, for example, a changing table, a changing pad on the changing table for the comfort of the infant, and a cover for the changing pad for sanitary purposes. If the changing pad cover becomes soiled, it can easily be removed from the changing pad and laundered.

Problems exist, however, in the related art. For example, disposable diapers are generally purchased in bulk packages where they are folded and compressed for efficiency. When unfolded to apply to an infant, disposable diapers have a tendency to close and resume their folded shape. When attempting to change the diaper of an unhappy or squirming infant, it can be difficult to both unfold and hold open a diaper while simultaneously positioning the infant within the diaper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, embodiments of the invention are directed to a cover for an infant changing pad that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of embodiments of the invention is to provide an improved system for changing diapers of squirming infants.

Another object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a device to hold open a folded diaper to keep it from inadvertently closing.

Yet another object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a device that is easily cleaned and laundered.

Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of embodiments of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the embodiments of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of embodiments of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, a cover for an infant changing pad includes a substantially rectangular surface sized in approximate proportions to cover an infant changing pad, a lengthwise axis centrally dividing the rectangular surface lengthwise, a crosswise axis centrally dividing the rectangular surface crosswise, a first retention area on the rectangular surface, a second retention area on the rectangular surface, a third retention area on the rectangular surface, and wherein the first, second, and third retention areas releasably retain a diaper.

In another aspect, a cover for an infant changing pad includes a substantially rectangular surface sized in approximate proportions to cover an infant changing pad, a lengthwise axis equally dividing the rectangular surface lengthwise, a crosswise axis equally dividing the rectangular surface crosswise, a first retention area on the rectangular surface disposed on the lengthwise axis, a second retention area on the rectangular surface, a third retention area on the rectangular surface that, together with the second retention area, are disposed on a line that is parallel to the crosswise axis, and wherein the first, second, and third retention areas releasably retain a diaper.

In yet another aspect, a cover for an infant changing pad includes a substantially rectangular surface sized in approximate proportions to cover an infant changing pad, a lengthwise axis dividing the rectangular surface lengthwise into a top half and a bottom half, a crosswise axis dividing the rectangular surface crosswise into a first side and a second side, a first retention area disposed on the lengthwise axis and on the first side of the crosswise axis, a second retention area on the first side of the crosswise axis and the top side of the lengthwise axis, a third retention area on the first side of the crosswise axis and the bottom side of the lengthwise axis that, together with the second retention area, are disposed on a line that is parallel to the crosswise axis, and wherein the first, second, and third retention areas are patches of a hook-type fastener that releasably retain a non-woven shall of the diaper.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of embodiments of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a cover for a changing pad according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a cover for a changing pad according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a drawing of a protective sheet for a cover for a changing pad according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a cover for a changing pad according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a cover 100 for a changing pad can be generally rectangular. The cover 100 can be sized in approximate proportions to cover a changing pad. Although the cover is depicted as rigidly rectangular in the figures, those of skill in the art will appreciate that a changing pad may have a concave portion that a cover 100 can be tailored to fit the precise shape of a changing pad. Accordingly, although the cover 100 is shown and described as rectangular, this is for illustrative purposes only and the term rectangular is meant to include shapes that are substantially rectangular including shapes that may be rectangular having concave portions or other surface deviations. The cover can be sized in approximate dimensions as are known in the related art and can be attached to a changing pad as known in the art.

The cover 100 can be divided by two imaginary axes 110 and 120. The axis 110 can be a crosswise axis dividing the cover 100 approximately in half crosswise at a middle creating two halves 111 and 112. The axis 120 can be a lengthwise axis dividing the cover 100 in half lengthwise at a middle creating a top half 122 and a bottom half 121.

The cover can have retention areas 130, 140 and 150 for retaining a diaper 105. The retention areas 130, 140 and 150 can removably secure the diaper 105 to the top surface of the cover 100. The retention areas 130, 140 and 150 can maintain a previously folded diaper in an open position in a preferred position for application to an infant. The retention areas 130, 140 and 150 can prevent a diaper 105 from becoming dislodged by a squirming or kicking infant. The retention areas 130, 140 and 150 can be disposed on one side 111 of the crosswise axis 110. The retention areas 130, 140 and 150 can be disposed symmetrically about the lengthwise axis 120. The retention area 140 can be disposed on the lengthwise axis 120. The retention area 140 can be disposed near an edge of the cover 100. The retention area 130 and the retention area 150 can be disposed on a line (not shown) that is substantially parallel to the crosswise axis 110. The retention area 130 can be disposed on the top half 122 and the retention area 150 can be disposed on the bottom half 121.

The retention areas 130, 140 and 150 can be formed from a material that is different from the material that the cover is formed from. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the cover 100 is formed from natural or synthetic fiber such as cotton or nylon. The retention areas 130, 140 and 150 can be formed from a hook-type fastener such as Velcro hook 830 or Velcro hook 833 manufactured by the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. The retention areas 130, 140 and 150 can have preferably 1700 hooks per square inch and a hook height of 0.02 inches. Although 1700 hooks per square inch is preferred, those of skill in the art will appreciate that other numbers of hooks per square inch will achieve the same results as 1700 hooks per square inch and therefore fall within the scope of the invention. The retention areas 130, 140 and 150 can have between 1300 and 1900 hooks per square inch and a hook height of between 0.15 inches and 0.028 inches.

The hooks of the aforementioned Velcro products can be very small and have been tested to releasably secure a shell of a diaper even if the diaper is not specifically configured for compatibility with the retention areas 130, 140 and 150. In this regard, diapers are commonly formed from a non-woven pressed fabric like material. The hooks of the retention areas 130, 140 and 150, when formed from the aforementioned products, are small enough to press into, engage, retain the fibers of a shell of the diaper. The retention, however, is superficial and the diaper can be removed from the retention areas 130, 140 and 150 with just a few pounds of force and without damaging the diaper.

The retention areas 130, 140 and 150 can be sewn to the cover 100. Although the retention areas 130, 140 and 150 are illustrated as three rectangular patches, the invention is not limited to retention areas 130, 140 and 150 as illustrated and includes other shapes, sizes, and arrangements of retention areas. Although the retention areas 130, 140 and 150 of the invention are illustrated and described as being symmetrical with respect to the lengthwise axis 120 and disposed on one side 111 of the crosswise axis, the positions of the retention areas 130, 140 and 150 are not limited as shown and described. Specifically, without limitation, it is contemplated and within the scope of the intention that the retention areas 130, 140 and 150 can be disposed on multiple areas of the cover 100 without respect to symmetry and without respect to being solely on one side 111 or the other 112 of the crosswise axis 110. Further although the retention areas 130, 140 and 150 have been illustrated in FIG. 1 as discrete areas that are separate, it is contemplated that varying arrangements and interconnections of the retention areas 130, 140 and 150 fall withing the scope of the invention and it is specifically contemplated, that the retention areas 130, 140 and 150 may be formed from a single piece of material as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a cover for a changing pad according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The embodiment of FIG. 2 is a variation on the embodiment for FIG. 1 where the retention areas 130, 140 and 150 are instead formed from a T-shaped piece of material having retention areas 230, 240 and 250 on the cover 200. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 2, it is not required that the retention areas 230, 240 and 250 be separate and disconnected.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of a protective sheet for a cover for a changing pad according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. According to FIG. 3, a changing pad cover 100 can include protective sheets 131, 141, and 151. The protective sheets 131, 141, and 151 can be formed from woven or non-woven material. The protective sheets 131, 141, and 151 can be applied to the retention areas (not labeled) of the cover 100 during shipping and during laundering to protect the retention areas from damage or the accumulation of debris.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the cover for an infant changing pad without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that embodiments of the invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cover for an infant changing pad: a substantially rectangular surface sized in approximate proportions to cover an infant changing pad; a lengthwise axis centrally dividing the rectangular surface lengthwise; a crosswise axis centrally dividing the rectangular surface crosswise; a first retention area on the rectangular surface; a second retention area on the rectangular surface; a third retention area on the rectangular surface; and wherein the first, second, and third retention areas releasably retain a diaper.
 2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the first, second, and third retention areas are disposed on a first side of the crosswise axis.
 3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the first retention area is disposed near and edge of the rectangular surface and the second and third retention areas are disposed near the crosswise axis.
 4. The cover of claim 1 wherein the first retention area is disposed on the lengthwise axis and the second and third retention areas are linearly disposed parallel to the crosswise axis.
 5. The cover of claim 1 wherein first, second, and third retention areas are formed from a material that is different from rectangular surface.
 6. The cover of claim 1 wherein first, second, and third retention areas are formed from a plurality of hook-type fasteners that releasably retain a shell of the diaper.
 7. The cover of claim 1 wherein one of the first, second, and third retention areas is formed from a plurality of hook-type fasteners having a density of approximately 1700 hooks per square inch and having a hook height of approximately 0.02 inches.
 8. The cover of claim 1 wherein one of the first, second, and third retention areas is formed from a plurality of hook-type fasteners having a density of between 1300 and 1900 hooks per square inch and a hook height of between 0.15 inches and 0.028 inches.
 9. The cover of claim 1 further comprising a cover for the first retention area.
 10. The cover of claim 1 wherein first, second, and third retention areas are disposed in a T-shape wherein a top portion of the T-shape is parallel to the crosswise axis and a vertical portion of the T-shape is disposed on the lengthwise axis.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein first, second, and third retention areas are symmetrically disposed with respect to the lengthwise axis.
 12. A cover for an infant changing pad: a substantially rectangular surface sized in approximate proportions to cover an infant changing pad; a lengthwise axis equally dividing the rectangular surface lengthwise; a crosswise axis equally dividing the rectangular surface crosswise; a first retention area on the rectangular surface disposed on the lengthwise axis; a second retention area on the rectangular surface; a third retention area on the rectangular surface that, together with the second retention area, are disposed on a line that is parallel to the crosswise axis; and wherein the first, second, and third retention areas releasably retain a diaper.
 13. The cover of claim 12 wherein the first, second, and third retention areas are disposed on a first side of the crosswise axis.
 14. The cover of claim 12 wherein first, second, and third retention areas are formed from a plurality of hook-type fasteners that releasably retain a shell of a diaper.
 15. The cover of claim 12 wherein first, second, and third retention areas are disposed in a T-shape wherein a top portion of the T-shape is parallel to the crosswise axis and a vertical portion of the T-shape is disposed on the lengthwise axis.
 16. The cover of claim 12 wherein one of the first, second, and third retention areas is formed from a plurality of hook-type fasteners having a density of between 1300 and 1900 hooks per square inch and a hook height of between 0.15 inches and 0.028 inches.
 17. A cover for an infant changing pad: a substantially rectangular surface sized in approximate proportions to cover an infant changing pad; a lengthwise axis dividing the rectangular surface lengthwise into a top half and a bottom half; a crosswise axis dividing the rectangular surface crosswise into a first side and a second side; a first retention area disposed on the lengthwise axis and on the first side of the crosswise axis; a second retention area on the first side of the crosswise axis and the top side of the lengthwise axis; a third retention area on the first side of the crosswise axis and the bottom side of the lengthwise axis that, together with the second retention area, are disposed on a line that is parallel to the crosswise axis; and wherein the first, second, and third retention areas are patches of a hook-type fastener that releasably retain a shell of a diaper.
 18. The cover of claim 17 wherein first, second, and third retention areas are disposed in a T-shape wherein a top portion of the T-shape is parallel to the crosswise axis and a vertical portion of the T-shape is disposed on the lengthwise axis.
 19. The cover of claim 17 wherein one of the first, second, and third retention areas is formed from a plurality of hook-type fasteners having a density of between 1300 and 1900 hooks per square inch and a hook height of between 0.15 inches and 0.028 inches. 